UC Irvine Falls in Overtime to Loyola of Chicago

UC Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan started his sixth different lineup Thursday night against Loyola of Chicago, and it started out no better than the previous five.

If anything it was worse, at least in the first half.

The Anteaters, with two freshmen and a gimpy point guard starting, went scoreless for the first three minutes before Jeff Von Lutzow, one of the freshman, made a layup.

They trailed by 16 at one point in the first half, rallied to force overtime in the second, then lost, 78-72, before 1,437 fans in the Bren Center.

It was the second consecutive defeat for Irvine (2-7).

Keir Rogers had 35 points and Keith Gailes 28 to lead Loyola (3-3). Every time Irvine came close, Rogers or Gailes made a key field goal or free throw.

Irvine tied the score, 66-66, but missed two chances to win in the final seconds of regulation.

Rod Palmer’s eight-foot shot in the lane was short. Justin Anderson rebounded, but his off-balance shot bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

In overtime, Loyola scored first on free throw by Rogers and never trailed.

Rogers’ three-point play put the game out of reach, 72-67.

Gailes made four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.